Avian flu challenge demands coordination at all levels

What happens in Las Vegas may stay in Las Vegas, but the web of
transportation, communication and human migration linking all parts of
the world means no part of the globe may consider itself truly
separated from what goes on anywhere else. That applies whether it is
the benefits of free trade, or the worries of a potential pandemic.

That's why it's not so far- fetched for South Texas health
authorities to begin preparing now for a possible avian flu outbreak,
though the disease has claimed a relative handful of lives worldwide,
and outbreaks among fowl had been, until recently, chiefly confined to
Asia. This week South Texas health officials met in Falfurrias to draft
an action plan in the event of a massive avian flu outbreak in the
region. The job continues next week with a summit in Corpus
Christi.

Such preparations are part of nationwide, even global, plans
assuming a virus that has felled millions of chickens, ducks and other
birds will eventually evolve into a human virus. Worldwide, 107 people
have died of avian flu in nine countries. The world has been lucky so
far. Health experts say most of the deaths have come from
animal-to-human contact, not from the virus being transmitted from
human to human.

Dr. David Nabarro, the United Nations' chief coordinator on the
virus, says the flu has infected birds in 30 new countries in just
three months. Just a short time ago the virus had been reported in only
15 countries.

Already there have been discussions at the national level about the
use of the military to quarantine large sections of the country if
necessary. But preparations may also go down to the family level. State
officials say households should begin planning for possible closings of
schools and major food outlets.

There is no cause for panic. But concern means preparation; health
authorities are being responsible by preparing, even for an outbreak
that may not happen.